MAPUSA
Four persons sustained burn injuries, two of them reportedly serious, after a major fire broke out at a bungalow housing a bamboo décor unit opposite Father Agnel Engineering Institute at Assagao, near Ghatshwar Nagar, on Tuesday afternoon.
The fire, which broke out around 3.30 pm, quickly spread through the premises, which housed an establishment selling decorative and handicraft items made from bamboo.
Three two-wheelers and a car parked along the roadside were also caught in the blaze.
The four persons suffered burn injuries while attempting to bring the fire under control. They were subsequently shifted to the North Goa District Hospital for treatment.
The incident triggered concern over the response time of the Fire and Emergency Services, as the fire station is located barely a kilometre from the spot. However, the fire brigade vehicle reportedly failed to reach the site even an hour after the fire broke out.
With the flames spreading rapidly, local residents and students of Father Agnel institute rushed to the spot and attempted to contain the blaze using equipment available at the college. The fire was eventually brought under control after the fire brigade personnel arrived.
Preliminary information suggests that welding work being carried out at the establishment may have triggered the fire. The bamboo products stored inside the premises reportedly caught fire quickly, allowing the flames to spread across the establishment.
The fire also damaged adjoining flats, destroying expensive household belongings. A neighbouring clothing store was also affected by the blaze.
While the exact extent of the damage was yet to be assessed, the losses are expected to be substantial.
Assagao sarpanch Hanumant Naik expressed displeasure over the delay in the arrival of the fire brigade, questioning the response when the fire station was located barely a kilometre away from the incident site.
